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The England squad numbers have been leaked by *checks notes* actual FIFA, who have also brought in an \u2018anti-Arsenal law\u2019 for the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Mediawatch also senses a developing theme of struggling to count when it comes to the Gunners.<\/p>\n
But first, that rule change \u2018dubbed the \u2018anti-Arsenal law\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
A great many rule changes have been announced for the World Cup<\/strong>which will all be implemented seamlessly and without any controversy, argument or confusion, finally bringing an end to that scourge of the sport: fans disagreeing about decisions in pubs.<\/p>\n Among the new laws introduced by IFAB is an increase to the scope of VAR, which can now intervene when an attacking player commits a foul at a set-piece before the ball is live, and a goal is subsequently scored or penalty awarded.<\/p>\n As FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina said, citing Adam Wharton\u2019s block on a defender before Benjamin White\u2019s goal for England against Uruguay in March:<\/p>\n \u201cWe try to solve this and let\u2019s see what can be next. It would only be for fouls committed by an attacker. I don\u2019t think any of you would be happy with a goal scored as a result of a foul being committed and the reason why the VAR can\u2019t intervene is that the protocol says that.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a clear foul committed against the defender. The attacker clearly goes and illegally blocks the opponent; his only objective is to prevent the defender from being able to defend against his opponent.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are convinced that this goal cannot stand, it is completely unfair. We want the VAR to intervene even if a foul is committed just before the ball is in play. We are convinced nobody can object to that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Simple enough. But what it absolutely is not is this:<\/p>\n \u2018FIFA rush to introduce \u2018anti-Arsenal law\u2019 for the World Cup in latest set of rule changes \u2013 with England singled out\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The MailOnline<\/strong> there, sensing that there are clicks to be had beyond fearing how one of England\u2019s biggest assets might be nullified.<\/p>\n \u2018A new rule, dubbed the \u2018anti-Arsenal law\u2019, is to be introduced at the World Cup,\u2019 writes Lewis Browning. But at no stage is it revealed precisely who has \u2018dubbed\u2019 it such.<\/p>\n It certainly wasn\u2019t IFAB, FIFA or Collina. No manager or player quotes using that term either. Not even some the-social-media-site-formerly-known-as-X tomfoolery from someone with 14 followers and Cole Palmer as their profile picture.<\/p>\n Not once, beyond the headline and the first paragraph, is the phrase \u2018anti-Arsenal law\u2019 used again. Because no-one has called it or \u2018dubbed\u2019 it that. The MailOnline just know \u2018anti-Arsenal law\u2019 will drive more engagement than \u2018anti-Wharton law\u2019.<\/p>\n It\u2019s like the \u2018so-called \u201cArteta rule\u201d\u2018<\/strong> all over again.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Another thing announced in time for the World Cup are the squad lists<\/strong>. They are sort of important.<\/p>\n It is on there that the shirt numbers have been revealed<\/strong>which is obviously the best part of any tournament.<\/p>\n But this is phenomenal nonsense atop The Sun website<\/strong> as the biggest story in football as of Tuesday lunchtime:<\/p>\n \u2018England squad numbers \u2018LEAKED\u2019 in huge hint over Thomas Tuchel\u2019s starting XI for World Cup 2026\u2032<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n It is genuinely interesting to see which numbers have been allocated to which players. But why is \u2018LEAKED\u2019 in quote marks when a) you aren\u2019t quoting anyone, and b) it was a document published by actual sodding FIFA?<\/p>\n And for the last time, there are no leaks<\/strong>. Only whispers.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n But of course, where one leads\u2026<\/p>\n \u2018England\u2019s World Cup squad numbers leaked as Thomas Tuchel drops big hint\u2019 \u2013 Daily Mirror website<\/strong>.<\/p>\n It is downgraded to the numbers merely having \u2019emerged\u2019 by the third paragraph. But they don\u2019t clarify from where, presumably because acknowledging that the information came from a document FIFA themselves published brings the entire edifice of a leak crashing down.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n And for the hat-trick, we have the MailOnline<\/strong>:<\/p>\n \u2018England\u2019s World Cup squad numbers are leaked \u2013 dropping big hints over Thomas Tuchel\u2019s starting XI in a number of key positions\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Is a \u2018leak\u2019 just shorthand for \u2018something we haven\u2019t received a press release about\u2019 now?<\/p>\n The best bit is the opening paragraph which says \u2018England\u2019s squad numbers for the 2026 World Cup have been confirmed\u2019. It\u2019s either a \u2018leak\u2019 or a confirmation; you can\u2019t have both.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The big news over at the Daily Mirror website<\/strong> is that:<\/p>\n \u2018Arsenal could sell EIGHT players to fund Rogers and Alvarez transfers as Arteta bids to build on Premier League triumph and Champions League heartache\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Except by the opening paragraph we are told:<\/p>\n \u2018As many as eight Arsenal players are in contention to be sold as the Gunners plan to make a splash in the summer transfer window.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n And that just isn\u2019t the same thing, is it? Much like hundreds of thousands, up to one million and over one million are all intrinsically different. What is it about Arsenal that make people lose their mind over numbers?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Mediawatch was under no illusions when clicking on this Sun website<\/strong> headline\u2026<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m an astrologer and I know how far England will go at the World Cup\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u2026but it seemed safe to assume said astrologer would not keep such information to themselves.<\/p>\n Alas, we never are told by Inbaal Honigman precisely how far England will go at the World Cup. It is instead just forecast that two players will be sent off and, obviously weirdly specifically, \u201cone free-spirited England player will receive a couple of yellow cards, which he\u2019s not particularly fussed about, even going so far as to joke about it\u201d.<\/p>\n Declan Rice is in retrograde and there will be a clip of him saying or doing mentality monster things, basically.<\/p>\n This is also absolutely textbook astrologising:<\/p>\n \u201cThe World Cup starts off wonderfully for the English team, as Tuchel\u2019s neat and organised Virgo techniques are aligned with the stars.<\/p>\n \u201cA real high point comes between the 19th and the 21st of June, when the Moon is in Virgo, and Tuchel is exceptionally lucky.<\/p>\n \u201cUp against a skilled and talented foe, England snatch the win thanks to the Moon during those dates.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n England play on the 17th and the 23rd. Might as well fly back now, lads.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u2018Premier League icon lands shock international job just days before World Cup\u2019 \u2013 The Sun website<\/strong>.<\/p>\n From whom did Saido Berahino secure \u2018Premier League icon\u2019 clearance? Because absolutely not.<\/p>\n And it is indeed \u2018just days before World Cup\u2019. Nine, to be exact. But what does that have to do with taking up a place on the coaching staff of Burundi, who won\u2019t actually be there?<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Hide and leak<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Numbers game<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Just to confirm<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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After EIGHT<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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The Sun and the moon<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Said song<\/strong><\/h2>\n